Banaskantha (Gujarat), July 4: Heavy monsoon rains have triggered severe flooding in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, with Tharad emerging as one of the worst-affected areas. Waterlogged roads have disrupted transportation and daily life, with vehicles struggling to move through inundated streets.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Banaskantha and surrounding areas, warning of very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls. A red alert has also been announced for several districts, including:
- Ahmedabad
- Surendranagar
- Morbi
- Jamnagar
- Devbhoomi Dwarka
- Porbandar
- Rajkot
- Sabarkantha
- Banaskantha
These regions are expected to witness gusty winds below 40 km/h, heavy rainfall exceeding 15 mm per hour, and frequent lightning strikes. Residents have been advised to remain indoors and avoid non-essential travel.
Extended Rainfall and Flood Warnings
IMD has further issued yellow alerts, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall in the region for the next seven days. A recent X (formerly Twitter) update from IMD confirmed significant rainfall across Gujarat in the past 24 hours, citing heavy downpours in Saurashtra and Kutch.
Low-lying areas in Saurashtra face moderate flash flood risk, while urban coastal regions could see transportation and power supply disruptions.
The western coast—including Konkan, Goa, and the Ghat regions of Maharashtra—is under high alert due to a strong offshore trough and moisture feed from the Arabian Sea. Extremely heavy rainfall (≥21 cm) is expected on July 4, and again between July 6–7, particularly over South Konkan, Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra.
National Impact and Warnings to Fishermen
IMD has issued an advisory for fishermen to avoid venturing into the Arabian Sea from July 4 to 9 due to turbulent sea conditions.
Other Indian states are also battling similar weather conditions:
- Uttarakhand: The Badrinath National Highway is blocked due to landslides and debris near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani.
- Himachal Pradesh: Reports of cloudbursts and property damage have emerged. Locals have been displaced.
- Delhi: IMD forecasts rain and overcast skies for the coming days, with the monsoon expected to arrive soon.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have deployed disaster management teams for emergency response and relief operations.